Tree-holder



No. 803,308. PATENTED OCT 31, 1905. R. A. RIEK.

TREE HOLDER.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 22. 1904.

Witnesses Inventor,

I I v I o Htt'omegs.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUDOLPH A. RIEK, OF FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN.

TREE-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Oct. 31, 19o5.

Application filed September 22, 1904. Serial No. 225,537.

holders.

The object of the invention is to present a neat, cheap, eflicient, durable, and compact form of tree-holder which may be readily positioned for use and which will positively clamp atree in vertical position and when not in use may be folded so as to occupy but small space, furthermore, to present a tree-holder which shall be capable of adjustment to tree trunks of many different sizes.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a tree-holder, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts, there is illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention capable of carry ing the same into practical operation, it being understood that the elements therein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape, proportion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from the spirit thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective, exhibiting the holder as it appears when in use, a tree-trunk being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a collective detail view showing different parts of the device With the frame or body of the holder folded or nested.

The holder consists of a plurality of member, in this instance three, which are similar in contour, but of slightly different sizes in order to permit of their being nested. as shown in Fig. 2, for purposes of transportation or for storing away when not in use. Each member consists of a base 1 and an inclined clamping-arm 2, having its terminal 3 disposed approximately at right angles to the base 1. As herein shown, there is a substantially vertical bend 3 connecting the base and the clamping-arm; but this is not essential, as the clamping-arm may extend at an angle to the base and still be within the scope of the invention. Each of the terminals 3 is provided with a threaded orifices, and each base c is provided with an unthreaded orifice 5,

through which is passed a screw or other suitable attaching device for holding the base upon the floor of a room or other suitable support.

The terminals of the bases are held assembled by a spur 6, which in this instance is cone-shaped and has its shank passed through suitable orifices in the bases and its free end upset at 6 in the under base member, thus to hold the members positively combined. This spur is provided for the purpose of engaging the end of the tree-butt to prevent the tree from having any lateral or rocking movement when once positioned within the holder.

To secure the tree-butt within the holder, there is provided a clamping-ring 7, which is adapted to fit around the terminals 3 and brace them against yielding to lateral pressure. The tree is locked in the holder through the agency of binding or thumb screws 8, the threaded portions of which terminate in points to engage with the tree-butt, the said screws being seated in the threaded orifices 4. As will be seen by reference to Fig. 2, the members are adapted to be nested when not in use, and this result is secured by making each of them of the same contour, but of slightly different size, so that the terminals at both ends of the holder will aline.

In the use of the device the members are opened, so as to form a triangle, and screws or nails are passed through the orifices 5 and seated in the floor of a room or to a suitable base. The tree-trunk is then passed between the terminals 3, and its butt is brought into engagement with the spur 6, and by turning the binding-screws 8 their points are forced into the trunk, and thus securely lock the tree in position. By adjusting the screws the tree may be brought to vertical position and be held there without the employment of wires or like bracing devices such as are commonly employed in connection with ordinary treeholders.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the holder of this invention, while exceedingly simple of construction, possesses all the requisites to render it thoroughly effective in use, and owing to the mode of constructing its parts and the manner in which they are combined liability of derangement in use will be reduced to a minimum. Aside from this it possesses the great advantage of occupying but small space, as shown in Fig. 2. While there are but three of the members shown in this instance, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereto, as more than three may be employed and still be within its scope.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A device of the class described comprisinga plurality of members, a pivot constituting a spur, connecting the members at one end, and an assembling device and securingdevices combined with the other ends of the members.

2. A device of the class described compris- RUDOLPH A. RIEK. Witn esses A. G. DANA, LEO. F. DANA. 

